State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh speaks before the Nebraska Legislature in March as part of an effort to filter every bill that comes before the legislature this session.
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State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh speaks before the Nebraska Legislature in March as part of an effort to filter every bill that comes before the legislature this session.
Margery Beck/AP
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Nebraska lawmakers have not passed a single bill this session, as a state lawmaker continues a weeks-long filibuster protest over trans rights and vows to “burn this session for -art” if she has it.
who is she Democratic state senator Machaela Cavanaugh.
- Since February, Cavanaugh has stopped every bill that came before the legislature this session.
- She is protesting the proposal LB574 — or the “Let Them Grow Act” — which was brought by a Republican legislator.
- Under the current version of the bill, doctors would be prohibited from providing gender affirmation procedures and care for Nebraska residents younger than 19 years.
- Cavanaugh talks up to 12 hours a day on the floor to avoid passing the bills, talking about everything from the bills themselves to her favorite salads.
- And she made her intentions clear: “If this legislature collectively decides that child hate legislation is our priority, then I will do it painfully – with pain — for everyone.”
What’s going on? The Nebraska bill is part of a national trend in proposals targeting trans and LGBTQ people.
Want to learn more about politics and identity? listen to the Consider This episode about restrictions on drag shows and their history in the United States
Bills on the trans issue have increased in recent years.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
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Drew Angerer/Getty Images
What are people saying?
Speaking to NPR on Friday, Cavanaugh said she was pushing back against a new trend in politics.
I don’t know why, as a nation, as policy makers, there is this new focus on trans kids. Trans children have always existed. They have always lived in our society, in our schools, in our families. And suddenly, there is a decision by the policy makers that we have to do something about them. It doesn’t make sense to me. And so I don’t think that any policy that restricts the rights of children, because they are trans, is appropriate.
Cavanaugh acknowledged that important bills were not passing because of her filibuster, but she put the onus on legislative leaders who have the power to undo the LB574 proposal.
The Speaker is in charge of the schedule, and is of the majority party. And they are setting the agenda of what we are doing this session, [and] part of my intention is to get them to decide what they believe we should be doing as a legislature. And as such, we will not pass as many bills as we might in other years, but we will have to think about what we pass and what is important to us and what we value. And that will be reflected back to the people of Nebraska.
Nebraska state senator Kathleen Kauth, who is the lead sponsor of LB574, said she knew the bill would face opposition, saying Washington Watch With Tony Perkins last month:
We knew it would be very difficult. It’s an incredibly emotional subject. Everyone believes that they are acting in the best interest of the children, we are looking at it from very different sides.
We must give these children every opportunity to let their bodies grow, to let their minds grow, to let things develop more fully and work through the issues they are experiencing.
So, what now?
- The current session in Nebraska ends on June 9 and Cavanaugh said she will continue to vote as long as necessary.
- On proposal LB574, Cavanaugh told NPR: “I would like to come back after our holiday weekend, and that there would be an end point. That’s what I hope for every single day, that’s what I’m striving for every day one. I remain open to talk about what an end point could be.”
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